Corn-planter



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICEo THOMAS A. GALT AND GEORGE S. TRACY, OFSTERLING, ILLINOIS.

fCORN-PLANTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 259,679, dated June 20,1882.

. Application filed December 10, 188i. (Model.)

To all whom it may conceml Be it known that we, THOMAS A. GALT andGEORGE S. TRACY, citizens of the United States, residing at Sterling, inthe county of Whiteside and State of Illinois, have invented certainnew'and useful Improvements in Corn-Planters; and we do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description oftheinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

Our invention is chiefly/'applicable to that class of corn-plantersdrawn by two horses, and which plant two rows of corn at onetime,

but can be used on machines planting one ormore rows; and it consistsessentially of certain novel and useful devices for measuring anddischarging the seed, for regulating the depth of planting, and forcontrolling the operation ofthe machine.

One of the controlling ideas in our in vention is that of automaticallymeasuring the seed, one grain at a time, into a receptacle anddischarging such seed from the latter by hand for check-rowing when asufficient number ofv gra-ins has been deposited therein. i

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine embodying ourinvention. Fig.2

is a detached view of the parts constitutingY the mechanism in thebottom ofthe grain-hopper for measuring and discharging the seed. Fig. 3is a detached view of the shelf and vertical valve in the seed-tube,with the reciprocating bar and hand-lever which actuates said valvevshown in their relative position. Fig. 4 is a detached view of thedrivin g-gear, sprocket-chain, sprocket -pinion, and driving-shaft. Fig.5 is an enlarged detached view of the devices used for throwing themachine in and out of gear. Fig. 6 is a detached view of the treadle-barand forcing-lever. Fig. 7 is a vercal section of the hopper, droppingdevices,

A A are the side plates of the rear frame, pivotally attached by meansof the open stirrups a a to the rear cross-beam, B, of the front frame.

A' A are the usual carrying-wheels.

C O are the runners or furrow-openers,in the rear of which respectivelyare formed the vertical seed-tubes b b.

In the seed-tube b, near the lower end thereof, is detachably affixedthe shelf c, which is constituted of two sides at right angles with eachother, through one of which sides a shaftA is bolted to the front wallof the seed-tube b, and the other of such sides, then being horizontal,serves the double purpose of a support for the vertical Valve d and ashelf to retain the corn, if desired, in its passage from theseed-hopper to the ground. The vertical valve d is journaled at itslower end in the shelf c, as aforesaid, and at its upper end in a cap,e, fastened in any suitable manner forthat purpose to the upper end ofthe tube b. The vertical valve d is shaped so as to furnish the back toand a vertical partition in the seedtubevb.

A short lever, f, projects forward from the valve d, near the upper endof the latter, which lever f is engaged in rearward-extending horizontal clutch got' the reciprocatingbar h, which is actuated by the usual`hand lever, t', and which bar h, through vthe medium of the clutch g andlever f, operatesthe valve cl.

The valve d at each action of the lever z', by means of its partition,sweeps the last previously deposited amount of seed from the shelf c.

Referring to Fig. 2, D is a bed-plate, which` is seated in the bottom ofthe grain-hopper as a basis for the measuring mechanism. In the centerof the upperface of the plateDis formed the short vertical post j, as apivot for the revolving seed-plate hereinafter named. Such plate D isalso provided-with the hole j to permit the passage of the seed from theseed-hopper into the seed-tube b.

E is a ring which carries the seed-plate, and which has formed on itslower face the bevelgear 7c. The ring E ts down over the outside of thelface of the plate D, the bevel-gear k projecting below the face of theplate D.

F is an annular seed-plate, fitted loosely on the short post j as itscenter of motion, and fitted within the ring E. Triangular projectionsfi z on the'. seed-plate lF fit into and engage corresponding recesses,m m, onv the inner circumference of the ring E to insure the IOU seedejector' or discharger.

rotation of the gear-ringE with the seed-plate F. The seed-plate F isfurnished with such number of seed-cups a, each calculated to hold butone grain, as may be desired, and such seed-plate is made readilyremovable in order that other plates containing a greater or less numberof seed-cups .may be easily substituted.

Over the seed-plate F is placed the capplate G, which is fastened bymeans of lugs to the base-plate 1),.and which serves to hold thegear-ring E and seed-plate F in place.k

H is an annular eut-ott' plate, which lits into the upper face of thecap-plate G, and is held in place by a mortise in its center, passingover a tenon in the top of the post j, and by means of a bolt, o,passing up through such post and havinga nut on its upper end. 'lhecut-oft' plate H is an iron ring encompassing the outside line of thecircular series of seedcups n of the plate F, and supporting the threedevices of a seed-adjuster, a cut-oli', and a I is the seed-adjuster,which consists of a bridge, 1i, placed near the edge ofthe cut-od' plateH at a point nearly or quite opposite the discharge-hole j of the plateD, and spans theline ofthe series of rotating seed-cupsa. To the bench pthere is attached in any suitable manner the spring g, constructed of abent wire, having two open ends spirally attached to the bridge p, so asto hold the loop end of the spring q tiatupon the top of the seed-plateF. The spring q stands diagonally forward in the direction ot' therotation of the seed-plate F, so that in suchy rotation each seed -cup'a passes under the spring q prior to reaching the cut-off. In thisprocess the operation of the adjuster I is to give a sloping yieldingstroke over each succeeding seed-cup n, thus adjusting the kernel ot'corn therein so that the cut-oft' will readily keep back the surplusgrains, leaving 'the single kernel which has been adjusted in theseed-cup to pass under and be discharged.

K is an adjustable cut-off, axled at its rear end, and held adjustablyto the upper face of the seed-plate F by a spiral spring, r, seatedinthe closed chamber s, directly over the cut-ott'.

L is the seed ejector or discharger, and consists of a triangular pieceof metal so axled on the plate H as that one of its angles shall entereach succeeding seed-cupa at the precise time when such seed-cup isdirectly over the discharge-hole j of the plate D, being forced downinto sucli seed-cup by a spiral spring, t, seated in the closed chamberu on the upper side of the discharger L.

The purpose of the discharger L is to secure uniformity of dropping bypreventing any kernel from remaining in the seed-cup n beyond the pointof discharge. The spring t forces the adjuster L into each seed-cup,thus insuring certain disehargeof theseed from each seedcup when thelatter is over the seed-tube b and the hole j communicating therewith.By reason of the sloping` front of the discharger L it is raised out ofeach seed-cup by the rear' wall thereof in the rotation of theseed-plate F. Thus in this part ot' our machine the adjusterl adjuststhe grain in each seed-cup,

the cut-ott' K excludes all other seeds, and when with the cross-beam B,on each end ot' which f Shaft is a bevel-pinion, o, which engagesthebevel-gear la of the ring E. The shaft M is driven by means of a'pinion,w, aflixed thereon, which engages and is driven by alike pinion, w.' arerigidly fixed upon the same axle, journaled `on the outsideand laterallythrough the front end ot' the right side plate, A, of the rear frame.

A sprocket-chain, S, passes around the sprocket-pinion y and around asprocket drivegear, 0, rigidlyafxed to the inner end of the hub of theright carrying-wheel, A. Thus by means of thc inter-related mechanismaforesaid there is imparted to the seed-plate F a continuous revolution,which causes the latter to depositautomatically the contents of eachsucceedingseed-cup n through the hole j into the seed-tube b and uponthe shelf c therein,

from whence such seed isdischarged at ther willof the operator byactuating the by means of the hand-lever t'.

It lwill be observedthat the apparatus be'- forc described for droppingthe seed from the shelf c iu the seed-tube b to the ground-to wit, thelever t', valve d, shelf c, and reciproeating bar h-have no connectionwith the operation of the devices in the bottom ofthehopper formeasuring the quantity of seed.

It is designed that each seed-cup n shall be made to hold but one kernelof corn (that being the best if not the only mode of obtaininguniformity and aceuracyin number of kernels to be deposited in cachhill) and that the number of seed-cups n in the seed-plate Fshall besuch that any desired number of kernels may be successively dropped intothe tube b upon the shelf e while the machine is moving the distancebetween the check or cross rows, or the distance it is desired to plantthe hills apart, at which intervals the accumulated kernels in tbcseed-tube b are discharged to the ground. Thus, it' four kernels aredesired in each hill, and the latter are four feet apart, a seed-platewill be used in which the seed-cups are at such intervals that fourseed-cups will discharge each one kernel into the seed-tube b while theplanter nieves lincally four feet.

If it is desired to drill the seed, the shelt'c and valve d can bcremoved by unscrewing the former from the seed-tube, when each grainwill drop directly through the seed-tube b to the ground coincident withits discharge by each seed-cup n from the hopper.

valve d The pinion .r and a sprocket-pinion, y,

ICO

IIO

In Fig. 5 are shown the pinion w and its companion, the sprocketlpiniony, andY their relations to the shaft M and its pinion w. The bearing a'of the shaft/M is placed in ways b', so as to permitof sufficientlateral movement of such shaft to engage and disengage the pinions .frand lw. A lever, N, is rigidly attached to a short axle, c', which isjournaled laterally through the side of the stirrup a.

To the end of the axle c opposite to that at which the lever N isattached, is rigidly aftlxed an eccentric head, d', in which is fastenedexteriorly the horizontal wrist-pin e. A sleeve, P, is placed around theaxle M, just inside ot the pinion w, and projected rearward far enoughto admit of the formation ot' the recess or bed g therein to receive thewrist-pin c. When the lever N is thrown forward it partially rotates thetop ot' the axle c in the same direction, and the wrist-pin e', beingplaced in the upper portion of the head d', also moves forward. Byreason ot' the pin e resting in the bed g ofthe sleeve P the axle M isthrown sufticiently forward to disengage the pinion w from the pinion a:and throw the planter ont ot' gear. vA reverse movement of the lever Nwill of course throw the machine into gear. The upper end of the lever Nis made so heavy that by its own gravity it will remain either forwardor back, as placed.

R is a traveling pulley or idler seated in a vertical slot, intended totighten and guide the sprocketchain S.

V is a short longitudinal lever, fulcrumed on the cross-beam W, (whichextends across the rear frame in front of the axle of thecarryingwheels,) and has its front end attached pivotally, by a shortvertical stirrup, h, to lthe rear end or extension of the tongue Y. Onthe le- Ver V are placed the transverse treadle-bars fi and r, the rstbeing-behind the fulcrum l of the lever V and the last in front of suchfulcrnm. Both of the treadles t' and k are within convenient reach ofthe drivers seat, and by the driver pressing his vfoot on thetreadle-bar t" the rear end of the front frame is raised, and with itthe seeding mechanism. By pressing on the treadlebar 7c a contraryresult is produced and the furrow-openers G C pushed more deeply intothe ground. When the front frame is lifted or lowered it changes itsdistance from the rear frame. 'This has'been provided for heretofore by`putting a slot in the end of the lifting-lever. Our stirrup h permitsthe interval between the frames to be changed, and without thefrictionvof the slot.

Having described our invention, what we claim therein, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent ofthe United States, is

1. The combination ofthe base-plate D, ring E, having the gear 7c,seed-plate F, cap-plate Gr, and the cut-oft plate H, provided with theadjuster I, cut-off K, and discbarger L, the latter bein g adapted to beoperated by said seed-plate, substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

2. The combination ot' the seed-plate F, the cut-od' plate H, theadjuster I, the cut-oft' K, and the discharger L, the seed-plate beingboth acted upon and actuating said discharger, substant'ially as and forthe purpose specified.

3. The combination of the hand-lever 1'., reciprocating bar h, providedwith the clutch g, the valve d, provided with the horizontal lever f,and the tube b, having the shelf c, in the manner substantially asshown, and for the purpose described.

4. The combination of the sleeve P, provided with the recess g', axle M,head d', provided with the wrist-pin e', axle c, and lever N,constructed and operating together, substantially as shown, and for thepurpose mentioned.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence ot' twowitnesses.

THOMAS A. GALT.

' GEO.. S. TRACY.. Witnesses:

J As. B.V PAT rERsoN, H. PARKER.

